Daffodils at Docton Mill Gardens

Daffodils naturalised in turf.

Daffodils at Docton Mill GardensPhoto: MMGI / Andrew Lawson

By Elspeth Thompson

1:40PM GMT 23 Feb 2009

This dawn shot of the lovely gardens at Docton Mill in north Devon shows daffodil planting at its best. Lining the stone path that leads beside the millpond, and tumbling down the dewy grass slope beneath, they have been planted in clumps of white and yellow varieties, but at seemingly random intervals to create a naturalistic effect. Tempting though bargain mixed bags of daffodil bulbs might be, grouping according to variety not only looks a lot smarter, it also avoids the added confusion of different flowering times. Including some other colours apart from yellow adds interest, and the varieties shown here include white 'Mount Hood’ in the foreground and orange-centred 'Barrett Browning further back.

Naturalising daffodils in turf is usually far more satisfactory than planting them in borders, as the grass grows up at just the right time to hide the dying foliage.

If you’re after daffs for picking, try a couple of rows down either side of the vegetable patch.

Docton Mill Gardens and Tea Room, Hartland, N Devon (01237 441369/ www.doctonmill.co.uk) is open daily from 10am-6pm from March 1 until October 31.

GET THE LOOK

DAFFODIL SUPPLIER

De Jager near Maidstone, in Kent, (01622 840229; www.dejager.co.uk ) has 'Mount Hood’ and 'Barrett Browning’ among its hundreds of daffodil varieties, and also includes many of the delicate species varieties such as the lent lily Narcissus pseudonarcissus and the pretty hoop- petticoat daffodil N. bulbicodium conspicuous. Daffodil bulbs will be sent out from August onwards, but contact it now and you’ll be sent the spring catalogue, full of bulbs to plant now for summer flowering, and the autumn catalogue, bursting with daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs, will follow in June. There’s a 10 per cent reduction for those who order on line.

DAFFODIL PLANTER

Large-scale bulb planting is heaps easier with a long-handled bulb planter – a sort of cookie-cutter on a stick – which lifts out a neat clod of earth ready for you to plant the bulb and replace. And they can always double up as potato planters at this time of year!

Sneeboer, the Rolls-Royce of garden tools, offers one in stainless steel with a traditional wooden handle for £54.95 (from Harrod Horticultural, 0845 402 5300; www.harrodhorticultural.com), but Just Green (01621 785088; www.just-green.com ) has a lightweight version in chrome-plated carbon steel for £8.99, a reduction of 10 per cent while stocks last.

WOODEN BENCH

Sometimes a simple garden seat is all that’s needed, rather than an ornate ''statement’’ piece. This no-nonsense wooden bench is ideal for perching and admiring the view to either side, and would be easy enough to make. If you’re not handy with a saw and nails, a local carpenter could copy it easily enough. Working from a photograph is always easier than describing what you want, and Stafford Cliff’s 1000 Garden Ideas (Quadrille £14.99) is an invaluable sourcebook of ideas, including seats and benches, from all over the world.

GARDENS TO VISIT

The National Gardens Scheme has many gardens opening now to show off their daffodil displays. Particularly notable are Godmersham Park in Kent, with 24 acres of formal and landscaped gardens; Dial Park in Worcestershire, with old varieties of daffodil among its many rare plants; and The Old Vicarage in Westoning, Bedfordshire, a traditional two-acre Victorian vicarage garden with plenty of spring interest. Call ahead to check flowering times. Details in The Yellow Book 2009, on sale now £8.99 from good bookshops, via www.ngs.org.uk or by phone 01483 211535.